Why are there unexplained bumps on the inside of my wheel rim?
Corrosion under the wheel surface, often called chrome rot, forms hidden bumps on the backside of the rim that can cause sudden tire leaks. Dealing with this unexpected damage leaves drivers stranded with flat tires when they lack the time, money, or towing options to easily fix it.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1asking a mechanic about chrome rot or sealing during tire changes
- 2Trying to rethread the damaged hub using an impact wrench or tap tool
- 3Leaving the car stranded on blocks to wait for an appropriate tow truck
- 4Considering replacing the wheel hub independently to save money
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Now my car is on bricks 15 mins away from my house and no one can tow it currently”source ↗
“I don’t have a lot of time and a lot of money to go to a shop and replace the hub.”source ↗
“I took the tire off today to replace my A/C clutch magnet and when I was putting the tire back on I noticed these bumps on the backside of the rim.”source ↗
“I can’t wrap my head around how they got there since they don’t look like say hitting a rock after driving on a flat or something like that, since they’re not jagged.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3How do you remove a stuck wheel bearing and axle without damaging it?
- 2How to get a stuck brake rotor off the hub
- 3Pushed CV axle in while changing brake rotors
- 3How do I remove unfamiliar aftermarket wheel locks and hardware?
- 7Can you repair a screw in a tire sidewall?
- 3Brake parts missing or falling off after service